There’s a rhino in my shoe

Before I bore you tell you about the incident with the rhino in my shoe, I have to give a big shout out to Sheila Hurst for her wonderful review of my novel The Everything Theory. We spend a lot of time and love on our stories and it’s awesome when others read them and love them too. Thank you, Sheila! 😀

…now back to the rhino in my shoe….

I was happily getting ready to do some gardening last week until I went to put my foot in my gardening shoe.

I haven’t seen one of these beauties in a long time.

WARNING:Big Beetle (don’t worry – they’re completely harmless)

I looked after the beast cute little fella for a couple of days because he looked like he had been in a fight with another male. The males try to throw each other out of the trees by using those enormous pincers on their heads. One day I might get a video of the battle. But in the meantime this guy needed a bit of TLC. I named him Lonely Luke, nursed him back to health and put him in a safe tree where he is still sitting. Hopefully, he will win his next battle and with it the heart of the lady rhino beetle whose honor he fought so valiantly to defend.

When I finally got into the garden after my beetle nursing responsibilities. I saw the bees on the sunflowers. I knew you’d want to see this awesome sight too, so I took a snap.

It’s full size here because it’s a little more attractive and easier on the eye than Lonely Luke.

Below are my two attempts for my ***Arty Bits*** this week.

The first one is called In The Deep

…and the second one is Sunflower (of course!)
I was intrigued when I zoomed in on the sunflower and saw it was full of miniature flowers with stamens. Click on the picture and take a better look if you have the time.

Thanks so much for the shout out! And thank you for entertaining me with your wonderful book. I keep thinking about it and wish I could have kept hanging out with the characters while they amazed me with all the wonders of the world.

I’m glad to see your creatures aren’t leaving you alone. They must want you to put them in your next book! Your first artsy bit makes me think of the ocean and cold winter days. xoxo

When my mother read that book she said Luke stayed with her for a long time afterwards and she felt as if she wanted to talk to him. I thought that was absolutely beautiful 🙂 Apart from Cayo in The Eleventh Question, Luke is one of my favourite characters. I started to write a sequel, but lost it when my laptop broke (naughty me for not backing up). I had a bit of meltdown because I lost a lot of work and haven’t had the heart to start again. One day I’ll start writing again and bring them all back to life 🙂

That must have been awful to lose the sequel like that. I’m happy to hear there’s a chance of one someday though! I truly loved all the characters. Luke was my favorite, but everyone was interesting. I really liked Siera and Seymour too. I’ll look forward to hanging out with them again! In the meantime, I’ll have to read some more of your books.

When the book went to the original publisher for proof, they told me to take all Seymour and references to Australia out. I couldn’t do that and that’s why I dropped them and ended up self-publishing. It’s good to listen to professional advice, but we really need to have faith in our stories and believe in them. If I took Seymour and all references to Australia out there wouldn’t be much left (plus, I love Seymour and I just couldn’t do it to him ) 😉

That’s amazing that they would ever suggest that. Seymour was my favorite character after Luke. And I loved the parts that were set in Australia. I’m so glad you stayed with your vision and didn’t make those changes!

You’d love it, Carrie! I always tap my shoes before I put them on. Even when I was living in the city and people would say ‘what are you doing, Dorothy?’ LOL. I guess it’s just a habit you get into from living in the country 😀

Congratulations on Sheila’s great review. Well deserved indeed. The Rhino Beetle is very strange looking. I’m glad you were willing and able to assist him in his hour of need. 🙂 Your ‘Arty Bits’ are stunning as always. The mauve one really looks like coral, so you achieved what you set out to do. Magical close up of the sunflower too. Happy weekend to you too. xx

Thank you so much for the congrats, Sylvia! I’m getting the name right this time because I just called another blogger who commented on this post ‘Sylvia’ by mistake ooops! I must have had you on my mind 😉

That beetle freaked me out for a few seconds as my foot was heading towards my shoe, Jill! They also make a big noise that sounds like hissing squeaks, so he certainly let me know I was about to touch him! 😀

I thought the sunflower was wonderful and then I looked up close – that near view really blew me away. They are such a beautiful plant. I was just reading this morning that people keep these beetles as pets! wowzers 😉

The pictures are glorious Dianne. The sunflower was guaranteed to add happiness today as the sunshine offsets the rain here. Your friend the beetle looks fantastic, what a size. Good job he didn’t use his pincers on your toe.or he might have been Lambasted Luke.
xxx Sending Mammoth Hugs xxx

It’s really wise to keep all fingers and toes away from those pincers, David! Ouch – I don’t think that would have been a pleasant experience at all 😉
I’m so glad you like the pictures. Those sunflowers do add that extra bit of sunshine 😀
xxx Sending Mammoth Hugs back xxx

I stopped on the side of the road and took a photo of a little white calf yesterday, Char. I think I’m becoming obsessed with capturing the beautiful things I see 😀
And that beetle – wow, I haven’t seen one in ages so I’m glad they’re back. I always get a bit concerned when the smaller critters start disappearing and hope they’re not being taken by an introduced species (like our frogs were with the cane toads). It made my day seeing him 😀

I was watching a YouTube video yesterday about kids shows that had been banned for odd reasons. One of them was a cartoon about a little girl who made friends with a spider. It was banned in Australia because people were worried that it would encourage kids to go out and play with spiders and we have some of the most poisonous ones in the world! Oh dear 😉

Haaaa – he may or may not have a crush on me now and be back for more care after his next battle 😉 Someone mentioned the fact that he may have just won the battle and I didn’t see how the other guy ended up LOL. So cute 😀

i MUST know…how do you nurse an elephant beetle back to health? comforting tales of elephant beetle adventures that turn out well? Softly hummed garden songs….gentle readings from ‘Philosophy in the Garden’?

All of the above plus a few cuddles, Lilith 😀 He just needed a hiding spot (hmm, my shoe) for a while. Someone commented that he may have actually been the victor and ‘you should have seen the other guy’ 😉

Dear Dianne,
Congratulations on those fantastic reviews! I couldn’t believe the rhino beetle–I’ve only seen them in museums! Loved the photography–just beautiful! Wishing you all the best in the coming holiday season.

I knew you’d like the beetle, Kate. I know it’s a male because of the big pincers on it’s head that are used for fighting – the females don’t have those (females are far more peaceful) 😉
Thanks so much for the congrats – I was wrapped when I saw the review 😀

What a cool thing to do – providing TLC to a rhinoceros beetle, but of course it’s so you 🙂 Congrats on the great review… but not surprising.
We’ve had sunflowers from the markets 2 weeks running, so I just love your sunflower pics. I can’t wait to grow some in the garden. Fascinating that they follow the sun.

I’ve planted a lot of seeds together in groups with round borders, Dale, so now they look like huge bunches of posies around the house. Everyone around here is commenting on how good they look. I use to plant them in rows and they were nice but not nearly as spectacular. You’ll be growing them in TA in now time! 😀

I haven’t seen a rhinoceros beetle for ages. Loved your photo of lonely Luke and so pleased he made a complete recovery. It has made me think I should shake out my disgustingly, dirty and degraded sneakers that I use around the farm at the moment, never know what might take up residence in them over night!!! Love your artsy bits, especially the detail in the sunflower.

LOVE the sunflower pics sunflowers always make me feel GOOD Dianne. That beetle is amazing my kids would have looked after him too and put him safely back in the garden. My nature is an extraordinary thing. Merry Christmas to you and your family.